With season two of Bridgerton just days away (!!), it’s a safe bet that all eyes are going to be on Anthony [Jonathan Bailey]. And while his charming personality and undeniable good looks make him the main character of the year’s marriage market, don’t underestimate the importance of his iconic sideburns — or lack thereof.
In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly’s Stylish, lead hair and makeup designer Erika Ökvist explained that Anthony’s facial hair ended up being crucial to his character evolution. While his larger sideburns in the first season were an ode to his father, this season fans will seem him embracing a more trimmed look to symbolize how he’s taking on more “responsibility.”
“This season, we wanted to make him a little bit less high maintenance. He needed to get into [the mindset] of being the head of the family,” Ökvist explained. “His looks were a bit more pared back, a little bit more no nonsense. We did that with smaller sideburns that weren’t so in your face.”
Makeup was also used to tell a story when it came to Penelope Featherington [Nicola Coughlan], who fans learned was the one and only Lady Whistledown in season one.
“In season one, she was quite insecure and we didn’t really know the strength that she had,” Ökvist told Stylish. “Now that we know she’s this very famous, very secret author, she’s empowered. She’s doing what we all do when we’re starting to grow up. She’ll look in the mirror more, try a little makeup, she’ll go, ‘Oh, this looks better on me. This is a better color.’ She’s definitely evolving as a person, as a character and visually.”
On Coughlan (and just about every other character!), fans can expect to see “flawless” skin, which is in part thanks to the Pat McGrath Highlighter + Balm Duo, which Ökvist said was her “holy grail” on set. “It was a life changer because sometimes you just need to create more interest in the face, with a highlight and a low light. During the days we tended to use the balm so that we really got the cheekbones up to God and during the nights, when we have glamorous balls, we would use the shimmering back of the stick. We would even put in on the collar bones, maybe the shoulders — just to give that little extra shimmer that the camera loves.”
It’s that “glow from within” look, along with an emphasis on shimmery eyeshadows, that’s going to be the biggest beauty take away from the season. (Fun fact: Ökvist used each and every Pat McGrath MOTHERSHIP Palette ever created on set!)
“The Bridgerton beauty style is basically taking a Regency look that we love and then heightening the reality — using editorial means to translate the Regency look,” Ökvist explained. “The pigments [in the MTHRSHP palettes] are so cleverly designed so that you can go from very, very light-handed and looking really sheer and fresh to packing the punch with a bit more color at night. [They] really serve themselves to go from Regency daytime to nighttime and if you use a little more color, all of the sudden, you’re in 2022.”
And if you want to get your fix, it’s never been easier. Pat McGrath Labs teamed up with Bridgerton and Shondaland to create a limited-edition line complete with five must-have products. The collection was set live on Thursday, March 24, and it’s sure to sell out quickly, so start adding items to your cart. Keep scrolling to check out what gorgeous products you want to scoop up for your next promenade stroll.
Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in 'Bridgerton.'[/caption]
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in 'Bridgerton.'[/caption]
